Rising energy prices could see 47 per cent of households in the Highlands pushed into fuel poverty, says Energy Action Scotland
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Rising energy prices next month are set to see 47 per cent of households in the Highlands move into fuel poverty, according to a campaign group.
Modelling has been carried out by Energy Action Scotland after revised figures announced by the Scottish Government estimated a further 211,000 households in the country were likely to be living in fuel poverty in the coming months – an increase of 43 per cent on 2019 figures.
The Highlands is already one of the worst affected regions in Scotland with 33 per cent of all households living in fuel poverty.
Only the Western Isles fares worse among all 32 Scottish local authorities.
The issues have been highlighted by the Inverness Courier as part of our End The Chill campaign.
The latest modelling by Energy Action Scotland shows 57 per cent of people living in the Western Isles will soon be spending more than 10 per cent of their income on energy – after housing costs have been deducted – the official definition of being fuel poor.
A further 11 local authority areas will see more than two in every five homes moving into official fuel poverty.
Energy Action Scotland’s, chief executive, Frazer Scott, said the price increases will move significant proportions of communities into official fuel poor status.
"On average 38 per cent of households across the country will no longer be able to afford to heat their home adequately," he said.
"Although moves by governments in Scotland and Westminster to alleviate these price rises are welcome, they go nowhere near far enough."
Energy Action Scotland is urging the UK government to tax the excessive profits being made by oil and gas giants and to cut VAT on energy bills, redistribute the VAT windfall already received to help those with the lowest incomes and consider radical reforms to ensure that vulnerable fuel poor households are protected.
Mr Scott said the UK Government will tax average dual fuel households an extra £44 through higher VAT receipts – heaping taxes upon those that can least afford to pay them.
"We estimated that 100,000 more households would seriously struggle to heat their homes after these price rises, unfortunately it would see this was a vast underestimate of the extent of the problem," Mr Scott said.
"We urgently need government action to improve the energy efficiency of homes, particularly targeted at households that suffer the greatest rates of fuel poverty.
"This would ensure help is being given to those that need it the most."
Industry analysts have warned that continued volatility in wholesale energy markets could push average household energy bills up by more than £700 to £2000 a year from April.
Mr Scott added: "Continued inaction will cost lives.
"Over 2000 more people die in winter when cold damp homes reduce health and wellbeing more than they do in summer.
"According to the World Health Organisation around one in three of these deaths are directly attributable to living in fuel poverty.
"These deaths are avoidable but look set to rise as prices rocket."
As part of the End The Chill campaign, the Courier has launched a petition calling on the UK government to end unfair higher electricity charges in the Highlands and Islands.
Although the region generates more renewable electricity than it needs, consumers across the north of Scotland are charged the highest unit price in the UK because of outdated calculations.
So far, more than 2000 people have signed the petition which can be found at www.change.org/end-unfair-electricity-charges.
More than 2000 people sign Courier petition
